Centering-form.



H. COOPER.

CENTERING FORM.

APPLICATION FILED IFI-18.1.1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH cu., WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. COOPER. y

CENTERING FORM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. I9I5.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MMM

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON, D. C.

H. COOPER.

CENTERlNG FORM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.1. 1915.

1,160,382, Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

coLuMlA PLANQGRAPH co.. WASHINGTQN, nA z:4

cnNrnnINe-ronia.

Application filed February l, 1915.

To alli/Hmm 'it may concern Be it known' that I, HOWARD COOPER, a citizen of the Dominion ,of Canada, residing at the city of vWinnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new andfuseful Improvements in @entering-Forms., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible forms for use in the construction of aqueducts,' sewers, conduits and the like, and has for its objects, the provision of improved forms which may be collapsed and nested for transportation, and the provision kof means' whereby the forms may be erected, kthen collapsed and moved from point to point and rerected in accordance with the re'- quirements of the work in progress and with a minimum amount of labor. The means by which these and other objects of the invention are attained will be 'found fully set out in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a view of the open end of a conduit showing my improved form with its carriage and operating means therein. Fig. 2 is an interior side view of the form and operating means, the opposite side of the form being removed and the, length curtailed. Fig. 3 is an end view of a variation of the 'principle of the invention to form a circular conduit. Figs. 4 and 5 are details connected with the style of4r conduit shown in Fig. 3. F 6 is a section Of Fig. 2 on the line A, A. Fig. 7 vis a view from above yof the interlocking members of the sides of the form. Fig. 8 is ak side view of the members yshown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9

-is a side view of the raising and lowering members showing their position when the form is collapsed.' Fig. 10 is a side view of the lifting lever. Fig. 11 is a face view of the same. VVFig. 1Q is a side View of the cross head apart from the other features of the lifting mechanism.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the different views. ris shown in Fig. 1 the form is made up of sections. those indicated as B andl C on the one side being connected by the hinge 2 and those on the opposite side indicated as D and E connected by the hinge'S. In Figs. t and 5 a further pair of sections F and Gr are showmwhich serve to complete n Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 16, 1915.

Serial No. 5,587.

the contour of the construction when a conduit circular in cross section is desired. Further reference to this style of form will be made herein later. The sections or shells may be curved as shown and they arepreferably formed with the circumferentially disposed ribs 4 and 5 pertaining to thefone side and similar ribs pertainingA tothe opposite side of which 6 is the only one in sight.` The number 'of ribs provided is of course properly proportionedto the length of the sections and the amount of `weight they will be required to sustain, and the connect-l ing hinges 2 and 3 may be used at each rib. Lag-ging 7 either of wood Or sheet metal, is secured to and carried by the ribs. ,1k-The ribs `are placed in pairs as shown andthe members of each pair spaced apart. Pro'- jecting tongue members 8 (Figs. 7 and 8) are secured between the ribs 6 on the side D at the upper edge thereof and are adapted to enter the spaces between the ribsy 'et and 5 on the side B to form an interlock between the sections-at their meeting edges. Pins 9 and 10 pass through the inwardly projecting portions of the f angles on the ribs and project on keach side thereof and the tongue members 8 are bifurcated as at 11 (Fig. 8) to accommodate the pin 9 and add to the security of the interlocks in a vertical direction. Thus it will be seen that when the forms are assembled in working position that is to say with the upper edges of the sections B and D meeting each other, though intimately connectedfby the inter-v locking ofthe ribs, they are not permanently connected as they would be by a hinge connection and therefore may be easily separated andnested for transportation.

The style of form most generally used is that shown in Fig.. 1v7 in which `it is usual to' lay the concrete floor'12 first thus providing afoundation for the longitudinal entend-` ing timbers 18 upon which the rails 14 are mounted to carry Vthe car H. The car H extends the full length of the mold sections and carries mounted upon it thev mechanism for supporting7 collapsing and repositioning the mold shells. This consists of a series of frames indicated as J and prefer-y ably three in number though but two are shown in the drawings. The frames J each comprise the fouruprights 15, 16, 17,and

18 converging at the top in a shape to sup-y port the plates 19. The frames J are posiheadK-made to receive it. The shaft 33 tionedf'on th'ecar' H7 one :contiguous'l to. leach end and one intermediate'the other two, so that theweight of the shell may be equally distributed over Ithe three frames, the frames being'connected each toV each and braced by the longitudinally extending members 20 and the cross bars 21 and'22. It is further necessary in the placing of the framesk J -that each should come oppositea set of the ribs 4, 5 and 6. A shaft 23 extends length-v wise ofl the car H and is carried in the bearings-24 ateach side of 'the frames J. Mounted upon theshaft 23 to turn. therewith-and disposed within each of the frames J ,is a curved,` andbifurcated lever arm 25, and immediately above each of the lever arms is a cross-head K, having, a shaft 26. passingv horizontally therethrough andV adapted to. revolve therein. The shaft-26 is provided on each side of the cross-heads withrollers 27 and 28 which bear upon the curvedfaces of the'lever arms 25, andxwith further rollers 29 and 30 at its ends tapered y tolitthe V shape of the perpendicular. guide members 31 at each side of the frames J in which they travel. A shaft 32 projects upwardly-from the center of the cross-head'K and a hollow shaft 33fpasses downV through an opening. in the plates v19 and over the shaft -32 torest` in a socket 34 yin the crossendsat the top in a headhavingarunded portion 35 larger in diameter thanthe opening yin the plates-19, and an upper portion 36 preferably shapedas shown and bifur- .cated to accommodate theinwardly projecting Vparts of the ribs 4, 5 and 6 and having Y in their length the'turn-buckles 46c-'by .which their lengths may be adjusted when found. necessary.` Chains 47 are shownrunning,

horizontal grooves 37 and 38 across the topl to engage thepins 9 and 10 at the upper ;edges of the .sections B and D. The crossheads K areprovided aty each side with laterally extending spaced apart lugs 40 andV 41 to receive between them the ends of the rods'42fand 43which form a pivotal con*-l nection therewith.. ,The rods 42 and 43 eX- tend from the cross-heads K toV the ,sections B and D withwhich they detachably connect by means of the eyes 44 at their ends Y which pass over. the pins 45 in thesides of the sections. The rods 42 Vand 43-have1each from the sides of the frame J to the hinges y2 and 3 and ending in rings 48 adapted to beahitched over the ends of thehinge piny tles,`the chains also having ,turnbuckles 49 by which their lengthmay be adjusted. The

chains are provided as a convenience while .preliminary adjustments are made, at which time, the width of the conduit having been determined, the length of the chains is made .to correspond and they are` used in the inanner hereinafter described. v A 'shaft 50V crosses thefheadframeJ at the .end ofthe 23 and lworin gears, 51 on the shaft 50'and i 52,011vv the shaft 23, connect the two shafts.A The shaft 50 is" provided `with a handle 53 bymeans of which it may be turned.

In the form under description the longitudinally extending timbers 54 and 55 (Fig.

l) formy part of the 'lower' sections() and E andl partake of their movements.

To erect the form under"consideration itV is usual in the first instance, to raisethe car somewhat above the end lofthe shaft tions B and D being thus held in Vpivotal 'i relationship toeach other and supported by theupright shafts 33. rlhe chains 47 are neXt positioned with their rings 48 over the. ends of the pintles of the hinges 2 :and 3y and the sections B and D wedged out to the limit allowed by the length of the chains which. is'that of the conduit to be. IThe wedging is of course temporary and accomplished by any-of the well known means.

Theflengthv of the rods 42 and 43y is next adjusted by means of the turnbuclrles 46 so that their Veyes 44 engage the pins 45 on the sections B vand D; The usefulness VofV thel chains 47 ends at this point unless they be retained merely as a steadying factor while the location of the forms'is being changed. Also itshould be mentioned that the location of the pins 45 asshown in the drawings is only relative and that Vthey might be placed below the center of gravity of the shells B and D rather than above-it as shown.

n Win be understood that-au the. leversl25 and `cross-heads K are Operatedsimul-l taneously by Vmovement of the lever 53, and that the dierential' of the worm .gears and theleverage of the handle 53 arecalculated to give a mechanical. advantage equal in. eect to the combined individual eorts of the numerous jack-screws with their operators previouslyl used to effect a similarresult. vIt will also be understood that thev I'.

outer sides of the grooves 37 and 38 are perpendicular as shown in Fig. 9,'and lthat the grooves are-of'ample depth to .discourage anyV attempt on the part of the .pins 9 and 10 to leave them except as the movement of l.

the mechanism may be calculated to release them. i

In a work of the nature contemplated a plurality of the forms described would be used, these being placed end to end, and the self-sustaining position of each secured by the brace beams 56 and 57-wh1ch are inserted between thesection timbers 54 andv 55 and,

the track timbers 13 13, the spacing of the latter being insured bythe crosszties 58.

An outer sheath, a fragment 59 of which is shown'in Fig. 1, is spaced away from the main forms and connected therewith by the tapered bolts V60. The width of the space between the ysheath and the forms defines the thickness of the concrete forming the wall of the finished conduit, and when this has set the bolts are driven out and the openings ,f grouted up. i As the concrete sets and it becomes desirable to move a, form forward the car H is positioned below it; the shafts 33 are run up till the grooves 37 and 3S engage :the pins 9 and 10; the rods Zandlarek conv nected with the pins a5 on the shells B and D; the braces 56 and 57 are removed and the lower sections C and E turned upon their hinges 2 and 3 till they occupy the positions indicated by the dotted lines C-2 in Fig. l. The lever 53 is then operated to lower the cross-heads K. As the crossheads descend the shaftsl descend with them till the rounded parts 35 of their heads rest upon the plates 19 when they come no farther. The operation thereafter continued to effect the collapsing of the section, which is brought about by the changing angles of the rods l2 and 43, due to the vertical movement of their inner ends as against the transverse movement of their outer ends. t will be noted that after movement of the shafts 33 has stopped, the upwardly projecting shafts 32 maintain the alinement of the shafts 33. When the collapsing operation is completed the car H with its load may be passed through the other forms in the series and the operation described reversed torerect the form in the new position.

is the work upon which forms of the present type are used are necessarily of an extensive character changes in construction to adapt the forms for different purposes do not signify, lar conduit is required, it is a matter of small linancial importance to provideV lower sections C and D without the lower timbers 5i and 55 but having tongue portions Gl (Fig. 5) adapted to enter `a groove 62 at the ends of the sections F and Gr, (Figs. 3, l and 5) and be secured therein by the removable pins 63 and 6st. In making the circular conduit the sections F and Gr are first positioned as shown in Fig. 4 to form the inverted portion of the conduit; next they are drawn apart to allow of the track beams 13`13 being placed, when the upper sections B-C and D-E are brought into action by the erecting and collapsing means previously described, the connection with the a mold of the rlever 53 is ya car, a frame on the as for instance, when aV circu-r sections F and, G beingmade as shown in Fig. 5 when the circular form 1s complete asshown in Fig. 3. i

- F rom the foregoing' description it will be seen that I have produced forms which may easily be taken down and nested for shipment; also apparatus by means of which the forms may be Vaccurately positioned, collapsed and rerected with a minimum of labor.

' Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim isf` l. A device for the purpose described comprising a pair of top sections having detachably connected interlocking means to insure the alinement of their upper edges and a second pair of sections hinged to the lower edges of the first sections, said sections, being constructed so that the mold willy be self-sustaining in its expandedposition and clear of obstructions to permit of the passage therethrough of a car carrying of similar construction; and a car and mechanism carried thereby whereby the relative positions of the upper edges of the top sections to each other is maintained while the mold is lowered or raised and eX- panded to working position. f

In an apparatus of the kind described, a frame work comprising a pair of curved sections having ribs and pin-like projections on the sides of the ribs; a portable frame and means for supporting the frame-work from the frame, said means comprising a vertically movable member' carrying an upright member engaging the projections on the ribs and lateral members connected with the vertically movable member engaging the sections of the framework.

3. A. conduit mold comprising a pair of curved sections having interengaging means at their upper edges and a second pair of sections hinged to their lower edges, stiftening ribs carried by said curved sections and pin like projections on said ribs contiguous to the meeting edges of the curved sections; car and a vertically movable member carried by the frame, said vertically movablel member carrying an upright member having a head shaped to receive the projections on the ribs and permit of their partial rotation, and lateral members engaging the sides of the sections of the framework.

4f. An apparatus for the purpose described in which is comprised a series of collapsible molds placed end to end and means for supporting, collapsing and moving the molds from one end of the series and rerecting them thereof, said means comprising a car adapted to pass through the molds, a frame on the car, perpendicular guidemembers positioned at different points on the frame and cross-heads disposed to move in alinement at the opposite end'1 isV V ze

lwith the' guides, ai perpendicular member above` each cross-head,l lateral struts pivotally connected to the Vcross-heads and adapted to engage the `sides of the molds, and means to simultaneously move the crossheads vertically to `lowerthe molds orto raise them toworking position.

5. ln an apparatus` of the kind described,`

a collapsible framework comprising a 'pair of curved sections having` ribs withfprojections at the sides thereo-f anda second pair of sections hinged to the lower edge of the first sections; a portable frame and means carried-,by the frame lto support, raise,

collapse andeipand the framework', said ymeans comprisingV a shaft, a lever-arm on the shaft and a cross-head mounted forJ vertical actuation by the lever-arm and carryporting and positioning the framework Copies of this patent may be obtained forve eentseacli, byaddressng the 'a pair Vofl d curved sections, a frame and means for sup fromfhe '-frame," saidl means comprising 'a plurality of? spaced apart lifting` members having means to engage the framework, and operative means connecting theseveralY lifting members for simultaneous vertical movement. i -t g 'A 7. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of top sections having their upper ledges adapted to register with each other, I

sections hinged to the lower and a third pair ay second pair of edges of the first sections, of sections said third pair of sections adapted to be first positioned to form the bottom of the conduit, then moved up to form the sides thereof, a frame and lmeans for supporting the top sections from the frame and expanding said ytop sections to bringthe Y lower edges of the'second sections into enupper edges of the,y third gagement with the to form a rigid connecsections, and means tion therebetween.

In testimony whereof, l affix my signature 5 of two witnesses. n

l A HOWARD COOPER.

- Witnesses: s

P. H. lliZIoNnLLi's5 W. G. OONKLIN.

in the presence Commissioner ofv atents,

Washington, D. C. 

